The quantitative results presented are based on 20 studies focusing on the impact of land rights recognition or formalization at the level of the farming household. In the Latin American and Asian cases, recognition typically took the form of freehold titling. The African studies assessed programs where rights were recognized through provision of freehold title, through formal registration of customary rights, or through conversion of customary rights to long-term leasehold rights.

The qualitative side of the review analysed 9 studies that catalogued a broad spectrum of both positive and negative experiences with land tenure interventions, the diversity of which made it difficult to draw out conclusive trends. They did however confirm that social impacts resulting from tenure interventions can be significant, unpredictable and in some instances have negative consequences such as displacement or
diminished property rights for women.

The review identified a number of key messages for policy-makers to
consider:

tenure security is important

any tenure reform may have negative social effects

where title is the dominant means for securing land rights,
productivity gains may take time to become apparent, the effects vary
substantially across cases, and they likely depend on other supportive
conditions, such as the performance of credit, input supply, and
product markets

policy makers should consider and assess a variety of models,
appropriate to regional and national contexts, when framing tenure
interventions